So Long, Senior Student-Athletes
One last look at our graduating Bronco sports superstars
Whether their dream school was Santa Clara or they just transferred in this season, Bronco senior athletes have created an undeniable bond with not only the university, but with every sports fan on campus. As we reflect on our graduating students and their time on campus as athletes, here are some of their most notable highlights.
Men’s Basketball
Keshawn Justice
As the record-holder for most appearances in the program, Justice has been beyond integral to the team. He has spent all of his college career with the Broncos for a total of five years, and stuck around as a graduate student, too. He also holds ranks as the school’s third-best three-point and free-throw shooter of all time. His massive presence is not limited to his physicality–he is one of the team’s core leaders, serving as a mentor for young players over the years, including superstars Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski.
Baseball
Coleman Brigman
Playing over 169 games with 119 runs for the Broncos, Coleman Brigman is a staple of Bronco baseball. Despite being one of two Brigman brothers on the team, the San Jose native certainly made himself known as an individual, becoming a member of the 2021 West Coast Conference All-Academic team and being awarded an All-WCC honorable mention in 2022.
Dawson Brigman
Also hailing from San José, Dawson Brigman has competed in over 200 games for Santa Clara. The brothers come from a long line of baseball players, but Dawson Brigman left his own mark as a Bronco with his intense passion for the sport. “This game has given me purpose, motivation and some of the best memories of my life,” he said.
Michael O’Hara
Michael O’Hara’s first “real deal” season came in 2021, his sophomore year. After getting plenty of minutes and hitting his first homer, O’Hara was named a member of the WCC All-Academic team. Since then, he hasn’t slowed down, taking an integral role in the team as a versatile outfielder who could play in any position.
Men’s Cross-Country, Track and Field
Nicholas Russell
Known for consistently running nearly a 4-minute mile, Nicholas Russell spent his entire collegiate career running with the Broncos. Over his four years, Russell made a name for himself by setting multiple school records–and, of course, taking part in the viral sensation of the Santa Clara Cross Country, Track and Field headshots. He has improved tremendously over the course of his career as a student-athlete, and finished on a high in his last event, coming first in the 5000--meter race at the National Collegiate Athletics Association West preliminary rounds, the first to do so in Santa Clara history.
Men’s Soccer
Oladayo Thomas
After lettering in five sports in high school, Oladayo Thomas began playing Division III soccer at Gettysburg College, scoring 23 goals in 37 games. He then made a massive jump to Division I and became Santa Clara’s go-to striker. Thomas’ personal accolades and recognitions are stacked, including two appearances in the All-WCC team in both 2021 and 2022.
Men’s Tennis
Mann Shah
Mann Shah became a standout player in both singles and doubles after joining the team midway through the 2019/20 season. Overall, he won more games than he lost as a single while maintaining fantastic chemistry on the doubles court alongside his fellow Broncos.
Arthur Neuhaus
So long to the savvy Swiss, Arthur Neuhaus, a tremendous force on the court. Neuhaus has an impressive record, having won more than he lost in both singles and doubles by impressive margins. Last season, he finished ranked 20th in the International Tennis Association Northwest Regional singles rankings, placing him among the region’s most elite.
Women’s Golf
Claire Choi
Just from looking at her personal accolades, anyone can tell Claire Choi is a certified Bronco legend. Included in her trophy cabinet is a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier. Having spent all four years of her college career with Santa Clara, it is that much more impressive that she holds the record for the lowest scoring average in program history (this is a good thing in golf—it means she is the bomb).
Women’s Soccer
Izzy D’Aquila
Having already left Santa Clara to go pro with the Portland Thorns of the North American Women’s Soccer League, it is clear that Izzy D’Aquila’s phenomenal dedication to perfection has taken her far. Her countless accolades and accomplishments stockpile into an impressive collection, leaving a massive mark in Santa Clara’s history. Right up at the top of her collection—an NCAA trophy that sent the entire school into gleeful hysteria in 2020. Her stats were only one aspect of her larger-than-life achievements, and the relationships she built while at Santa Clara add to her admirable legacy.
Ellie Glenn
After seeing her play, it may surprise some that Ellie Glenn scored her first and only goal as a Bronco during this past season. Originally a two-sport athlete in high school, Glenn became a consistent force on the Santa Clara team, literally running the midfield every time she played.
Softball
Allyson Ferreira
Playing 164 games in a Bronco jersey is not something that many even get close to. Allyson Ferreira has been a core figure throughout her time with the Broncos, having been with the team since before the words COVID-19 were ever muttered. As a shortstop and second-base player, Ferriera was always in the middle of the action, and will require a high-quality replacement if the Broncos want to move forward in a similar fashion.
Volleyball
Julia Sangiacomo
“Started in all matches this season” is an eye-catching accolade in Julia Sangiacomo’s Bronco career. A backbone of the team, Sangiacomo put on quite the show as an outside hitter for the Broncos. Not only an athletic standout, Sangiacomo was also a star in the classroom, as she was awarded for academic excellence by the WCC in 2020.
Women’s Water Polo
Lauren Baglietto
After her strong presence in the water for five seasons, the team must try to tread water in Lauren Baglietto’s absence. She was the team’s top scorer for a season, with 63 goals in 74 games, and scored 40 in her senior year. As a graduate, she was one of only six players to play all 31 games, starting in 30 of them.